By Leonard Pitts: Syndicated Columnist What is it with Mexico lately? When did it hire David Duke as an image consultant? I can’t imagine what else might explain that nation’s recent blundering into not just one but two racially charged controversies. The first, of course, was President Vicente Fox’s remark in May that Mexican immigrants […]

CNJ staff Just suppose you were downtown and came upon a man standing in front of the Hotel Clovis systematically destroying Bibles. Maybe he’d be burning them, one by one. Or tearing them to pieces with his hands. Or maybe he’d just put them on the ground and spit on them. You’d be outraged, wouldn’t […]

A recent Project: Reader Reaction asked residents how they felt about a constitutional amendment co-sponsored by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., that would allow Congress to protect the American flag from acts of desecration. “I’M A 25-YEAR veteran and served in both Southeast Asia and Korea. I’m a patriot and believe that the symbol of our […]

By Leonard Pitts It was about 25 years ago that a magazine article first called to my attention something called the Christian right. The story depicted a movement of religious fundamentalists who sought to radically restructure American life — mandating school prayer, creationism and censorship. I remember thinking the article was a little alarmist. Actually, […]

This last month my husband and I have had a lot of discussions about the Salvation Army bell ringers. I am not sure the weather had a lot to do with the fact that the donations were down. I honestly think it had to do with the people who were supposed to be doing this […]

Freedom Newspapers If the Washington rumor mills are credible, Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to step down, possibly by the end of the year. This would not be surprising or altogether unwelcome. Ashcroft aides have been hinting for months that he was ready to leave a job that has worn him down — though […]

Ned Cantwell (Writer’s note: Any resemblance to the New Mexico county now awaiting a threatened lawsuit over its issuance of gay marriage licenses and the fictional county below is purely coincidental. Well, almost.) Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the national press. My name is County Clerk Needon Attension, and we welcome you here to […]

Project: Reader Reaction A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked if Veterans Day has lost its meaning. Some responses: “I have never known anyone who did not respect a man or woman in an American uniform, or who said anything disrespectful during a Veterans Day parade. I believe most adults, and most much younger citizens, […]

Judy Brandon What is respect? We think of respect but don’t always apply it to every situation in life. Years ago, I learned a lasting lesson in respect. When I was in high school, I went with a girlfriend many times to see her grandmother who lived in a local rest home. The first time […]

By Kevin Wilson PORTALES — The Zia soccer team is looking to earn respect in the Lone Star Conference this year, one practice and one song at a time. Members of the inaugural Eastern New Mexico University women’s soccer team are preparing for a 15-game regular season, starting Aug. 30 against College of the Southwest […]

By Leonard Pitts Jr. So, how much do you need? Would a million do it for you? Could you get by on 10? A hundred? How about $400 million in cash? It is, of course, the all-American daydream. We’ve all had it, all stood in the shower or driven down the highway mentally spending some […]